The bond between a mother and her child is strong and should always be reinforced. That is why incarcerated mothers are allowed to play and interact with their visiting children. The moments they share with each other help keep their connection strong. Letting them talk, laugh, and touch may even decrease the level of trauma while they are separated.

Courtney Saunders received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for possession of drugs. It seemed like her world was about to end especially when the reality of being apart from her daughters set in. Saunders said that incarcerated mothers should have more than visits behind plexiglass windows. Every visit should be child-friendly, allowing the mothers and their children to have physical contact. The interaction would give mothers hope in their situation.

The incarcerated mom served 6 months at the Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts. After enduring that period in 2015, she convinced the judge to a compulsory treatment program, which would enable her to call her kids every day. Even if the calls lasted only five minutes, they truly made a difference in staying truly connected with her daughters.

Now 30, Saunders was able to regain her sobriety and is already reunited with her children.

Meghann Perry was also arrested in Maine, back in 2002, when her daughter was just about seven months of age. She was charged for being positive for methadone, which was prescribed by a doctor to help pull her out of heroin addiction. Perry kept entering and exiting prison and her treatments. She lost her daughter because she relapsed. Even so, she wanted to stay in touch with her daughter. Whenever they spoke to her daughter or received letters from her, she became motivated to fight. By 2009, she was granted regular visits. Because of those interactive visits that she was able to recover fully.

Now, Perry is a certified addiction recovery coach. She lives in Boston and works with people who want to strengthen or start their own recovery.

The United States has many incarcerated women. Most of them are in prison because of property or non-violent offenses because of the worsening opioid crisis. A huge number of these women are mothers and were the only ones who cared for their kids. Their children usually end up living with relatives or in foster care. The chance for an imprisoned mother to be with her children differs by the one who has custody, state, or correctional facility.
Unfortunately, prison visits are not granted to parents who were imprisoned because of child abuse or violent crimes. Some experts say that visits could cause more trauma to the children. Yet, for those who are allowed family visits, researches show that having them in a child-friendly manner possibly allays separation trauma, decreases backsliding, and maintains the connection with the family.

It is odd for a child to see his or her mother and not be able to interact or connect. It is just unnatural, according to a professor of clinical pediatrics and psychologist at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Angela Tomlin.
Endeavors such as Still She Rises (North Tulsa, Oklahoma) are attempting to hinder damage to family relationships. This program is the first public defender office that solely represents imprisoned mothers. Some states have already started creating visitation programs that are child-friendly. In New York, a pilot program has just been started. It involves visits at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. When the museum is closed to the public, incarcerated mothers at Rikers could spend time with their children there.

The said program was spearheaded by New York’s First Lady, Chirlane McCray. She saw herself how hard it was for children and parents to interact with each other during prison visits. She said that the off-site visits are important because they enable an imprisoned mother to have a relevant connection with her children. The quality time spent by mother and child, dancing, listening to music, or creating art together allows them to strengthen their bond and express themselves. The museum’s executive director, Andrew Ackerman, says that families can heal in such an inspiring environment.

Both Courtney and Perry have their daughters back despite what they have been through. Mothers and children should always maintain their connection with each other. The healing power of this exercise can truly change the lives of families and their inevitable futures as well.